Foldable hair holding device

ABSTRACT

A hair holding device includes a frame member having two spring arms separated from each other, and having a root portion joint together, the spring arms each include a free end portion having an extension extended toward each other, the spring arms include an engaging element provided in the extensions and selectively engaged with each other for coupling the extensions of the spring arms together, the frame member includes a clamping blade extended along a longitudinal central axis (X) of the frame member, the free end portion of the clamping blade is engageable with the extensions when the extensions are coupled together, and the clamping blade includes a curved bulge for engaging with the hair of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hair clipping or holding device, andmore particularly to a foldable hair clipping or holding deviceincluding an improved structure or configuration for allowing the hairholding device to be easily molded or made or manufactured and forpreventing the hair holding device from being broken.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Various kinds of typical hair holding devices have been developed andprovided for styling or holding or clipping the hair of the user andnormally comprise two resilient or spring blades hinged or pivotally orrotatably coupled together to resiliently clipping or holding the hairof the user.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,109,878 to Kuo-Hua, U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,912to Chou, U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,672 to Chou, U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,894 toYasuda, U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,102 to Vogel, U.S. Pat. No. 7,461,661 toChudzik et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,644,717 to Hsu disclose several ofthe typical hair holding or styling or clipping mechanisms each alsocomprising two resilient or spring blades hinged or pivotally orrotatably coupled together to resiliently clipping or holding the hairof the user.

However, the resilient or spring blades should be hinged or pivotally orrotatably coupled together with a spring biasing member, and the typicalhair holding or styling or clipping mechanisms include a complicatedstructure or configuration having many parts or elements that may not bemade or manufactured and assembled together.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate theafore-described disadvantages of the conventional hair holding devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hairholding device including an improved structure or configuration forallowing the hair holding device to be easily made or manufactured.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a hairholding device including an improved structure or configuration forincreasing the bending strength of the hair holding device and forpreventing the hair holding device from being easily broken when bent bythe user.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a hairholding device comprising a frame member including a U-shaped structurehaving a first spring arm and a second spring arm separated from eachother, the first and the second spring arms including a root portionjoint together for allowing the first and the second spring arms to befolded relative to each other, the first and the second spring arms eachincluding a free end portion having an extension extended therefrom, andthe extensions of the first and the second spring arms being separatedfrom each other and extended toward each other for forming a spacebetween the extensions of the first and the second spring arms, thefirst spring arm including a first engaging element provided in theextension of the first spring arm, and the second spring arm including asecond engaging element provided on the extension of the second springarm for selectively engaging with the first engaging element of theextension of the first spring arm and for selectively coupling theextensions of the first and the second spring arms together, and forforming an O-shaped configuration for the frame member and forselectively defining a chamber in the frame member when the first andthe second engaging elements of the extensions of the first and thesecond spring arms are engaged with each other, the frame memberincluding a clamping blade extended from the root portion of the firstand the second spring arms, and extended into the chamber of the framemember, and extended along a longitudinal central axis (X) of the framemember, the clamping blade including a length large enough to have afree end portion contactable and engageable with the extensions of thefirst and the second spring arms when the extensions of the first andthe second spring arms are coupled together, and the clamping bladeincluding a curved bulge extended therefrom for selectively engaginginto the chamber of the frame member, and for selectively engaging witha hair of a user, and the clamping blade including a selected resiliencefor allowing the clamping blade to be selectively separated from theextensions of the first and the second spring arms, and to beselectively and resiliently engaged with the extensions of the first andthe second spring arms when the extensions of the first and the secondspring arms are coupled together.

The frame member includes a thickness ranged between 0.8 and 1.2 mm, andpreferably the frame member includes a thickness of 0.9 mm. The framemember includes an included angle (θ) formed between either the first orthe second spring arms and the longitudinal central axis (X) andpreferably ranged between 5 and 7 degrees.

The first engaging element of the first spring arm is selected from adepression formed in the extension of the first spring arm, and thesecond engaging element of the second spring arm is selected from aprojection extended from the extension of the second spring arm forengaging with the depression of the extension of the first spring arm.

The frame member is manufactured with the following materials: 55% of1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), 30% of ethylene glycol (EG), 10% ofphosphotungstic acid (PTA), 1% of optical brightener, and 4% ofpolypropylene (PP) or butadiene-styrene copolymers sold under thetrademark, K-Resin, and include an excellent bending strength forpreventing the hair holding device from being easily broken.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a careful reading of the detailed description providedhereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair holding device in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan schematic view of the hair holding device;

FIG. 3 is another top plan schematic view similar to FIG. 2,illustrating the folding operation of the hair holding device;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating thefolding operation of the hair holding device;

FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view of the hair holding device as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a another side plan schematic view of the hair holding deviceas shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 7 is a further perspective view similar to FIG. 4, illustrating thefolding operation of the hair holding device; and

FIG. 8 is a further side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 6,illustrating the operation of the hair holding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hairholding device in accordance with the present invention comprises a clipor frame body or member 1 including a substantially W or U-shapedstructure or configuration or contour having two separated resilient orspring blades or arms 10, 11 and having one end or base or root portion12 joint together or formed integral with each other for forming thesubstantially U-shaped structure or configuration or contour and forallowing the spring blades or arms 10, 11 to be bent or folded relativeto each other (FIGS. 3, 4). The spring arms 10, 11 each include a freeor other end portion 13, 14 having a stud or extension 15, 16 extendedtherefrom, and the extensions 15, 16 of the spring arms 10, 11 areseparated from each other and extended toward each other for forming ordefining a gap or space 17 between the extensions 15, 16 of the springarms 10, 11. It is preferable that the frame member 1 includes athickness ranged between 0.8 and 1.2 mm, and preferably includes athickness of 0.9 mm.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, when the spring arms 10, 11 ofthe frame member 1 are separated from each other at an openednon-working or storing position, the frame member 1 may include arelatively increased or greater length (L), and may include alongitudinal central axis (X) of the frame member 1 and may include anincluded angle (θ) formed between the respective spring arm 10, 11 andthe longitudinal central axis (X) and ranged between 5 and 7 degrees,and the frame member 1 may further include a first engaging member orelement 18, such as an opening or hole or depression 18 formed orprovided in the extension 15 of one of the spring arms 10, and mayfurther include another or second engaging member or element 19, such asa swelling or protrusion or projection 19 extended from the extension 16of the other spring arm 11 for selectively engaging with the firstengaging element or depression 18 of the extension 15 of the spring arm10 (FIGS. 3, 4) and for detachably coupling the extensions 15, 16 of thespring arms 10, 11 together.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when or after the engaging elements 18, 19 ofthe extensions 15, 16 of the spring arms 10, 11 are engaged with eachother to secure or connect or couple the extensions 15, 16 of the springarms 10, 11 together, and to form a substantially O-shaped structure orconfiguration or contour at a closed working or folded position, theframe member 1 may include a relatively decreased or smaller length (D)than that at the opened non-working or storing position as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, and may include a compartment or chamber 20 formedtherein (FIGS. 3, 4). The frame member 1 may further include anotherspring blade or arm or clamping blade 30 extended therefrom, such asextended from the base or root portion 12 of the spring arms 10, 11, andextended into the chamber 20 of the frame member 1, and preferablyextended along the longitudinal central axis (X) of the frame member 1.

The clamping blade 30 of the frame member 1 includes a length largeenough to have a free end portion 31 contactable or engageable with theextensions 15, 16 of the spring arms 10, 11 (FIGS. 7, 8), particularlywhen the extensions 15, 16 of the spring arms 10, 11 are engaged witheach other or secured or connected or coupled together, and preferablyincludes a curved bulge 32 extended therefrom or formed or providedthereon for selectively engaging into the chamber 20 of the frame member1, and for selectively engaging with the hair 80 of the user (FIG. 8),and thus for engaging or anchoring or retaining or positioning the framemember 1 onto the hair 80 of the user, and/or for suitably clipping orclamping the hair 80 of the user in place.

The clamping blade 30 of the frame member 1 includes a suitable orselected resilience for allowing the clamping blade 30 to be selectivelydisengaged or separated or spaced from the extensions 15, 16 of thespring arms 10, 11 for a space or distance or opening 40 (FIGS. 4, 6),and to be selectively and resiliently contacted or engaged with theextensions 15, 16 of the spring arms 10, 11 when the extensions 15, 16of the spring arms 10, 11 are secured or connected or coupled together(FIGS. 7, 8), and thus for allowing the hair 80 of the user to beselectively and resiliently clipped or clamped or anchored or retainedor positioned in place with the frame member 1 (FIG. 8). The coupling oradjacent portions 90 of the root portion 12 and the spring arms 10, 11(FIG. 7) may include a suitable or selected resilience for preventingthe spring arms 10, 11 from being bent or broken or damaged when theframe member 1 is bent or folded by the user (FIGS. 7, 8).

The frame member 1 of the hair holding device in accordance with thepresent invention may be made or manufactured with the followingpolymerized plastic mixture materials: 55% of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol(CHDM), 30% of ethylene glycol (EG), 10% of phosphotungstic acid (PTA),1% of optical brightener, and 4% of polypropylene (PP) orbutadiene-styrene copolymers sold under the trademark, K-Resin with 5%tolerance for each individual component respectively, and the abovepolymerized plastic mixture is preferably made or manufactured with anextrusion method via a preset mold, in which the1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) is primarily used in producingchemically modified polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous materialglycol-modified poly-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate (PCTG) ofPET modified with CHDM (PETG), engineering plastic substance, adhesivesubstance and the like, and is made from dimethyl terephthalate (DMT)via hydrogenation. The frame member 1 thus made may include an excellentbending strength for preventing the hair holding device from beingeasily broken. The ethylene glycol (EG) is a thick paste-like liquidwith preferable boiling point of 197.37.degree. The phosphotungstic acid(PTA) is converted from p-Xylene (PX) in the acetic acid solution viacatalytic oxidization and thermal refinement under suitable pressure,the optical brightener is used for enhancing the shining brightness, thebutadiene-styrene copolymers sold under the trademark, K-Resin is atransparent butadiene-styrene copolymer; and the polypropylene (PP)features in flexibly excellent processing ability. By pouring thepolymerized plastic mixture of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM),ethylene glycol (EG), phosphotungstic acid (PTA), optical brightener andpolypropylene (PP) or butadiene-styrene copolymers sold under thetrademark, K-Resin into the preset mold of the hairclip to be extrudedout, a frame member 1 of the hair holding device includes a goodmalleability, re-plasticization ability and tenacity withoutsusceptibility to rupture, breakage, whiten-crazing effect at bentportion and aging effect, is fabricated to have artistic effect inshining brightness and eco-friendly effect.

Accordingly, the hair holding device in accordance with the presentinvention includes an improved structure or configuration for allowingthe hair holding device to be easily made or manufactured, and forincreasing the bending strength of the hair holding device and forpreventing the hair holding device from being broken.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure hasbeen made by way of example only and that numerous changes in thedetailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

1. A hair holding device comprising: a frame member including a U-shapedstructure having a first spring arm and a second spring arm separatedfrom each other, said first and said second spring arms including a rootportion where one end of each of the first and second spring arms jointtogether for allowing said first and said second spring arms to befolded relative to each other, said first and said second spring armseach including a free end portion and each including an extensionextended from said free end portion, and said extensions of said firstand said second spring arms being separated from each other for forminga space between said extensions of said first and said second springarms, said first spring arm including a depression provided in saidextension of said first spring arm, and said second spring arm includinga projection provided on said extension of said second spring arm forselectively engaging with said depression of said extension of saidfirst spring arm and for selectively coupling said extensions of saidfirst and said second spring arms together, and for forming an O-shapedconfiguration for said frame member and for selectively defining achamber in said frame member when said depression and said projection ofsaid extensions of said first and said second spring arms are engagedwith each other, said frame member including a clamping blade extendedfrom said root portion of said first and said second spring arms, andextended into said chamber of said frame member, and extended along alongitudinal central axis (X) of said frame member, said clamping bladebeing located between said first and said second spring arms, andincluding a length large enough to have a free end portion contactableand engageable with said extensions of said first and said second springarms when said extensions of said first and said second spring arms arecoupled together, and said clamping blade including a curved bulge forselectively engaging into said chamber of said frame member, and forselectively engaging with a hair of a user, and said frame memberincluding an included angle (θ) formed between either said first or saidsecond spring arm and said longitudinal central axis (X), said framemember being manufactured with the following materials: 55% of1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM), 30% of ethylene glycol (EG), 10% ofphosphotungstic acid (PTA), 1% of optical brightener, and 4% ofpolypropylene (PP) or butadiene-styrene copolymers, and said clampingblade being resilient for allowing said clamping blade to be selectivelyseparated from said extensions of said first and said second springarms, and to be selectively and resiliently engaged with said extensionsof said first and said second spring arms when said extensions of saidfirst and said second spring arms are coupled together.
 2. The hairholding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame member includesa thickness ranged between 0.8 and 1.2 mm.
 3. The hair holding device asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said frame member includes a thickness of0.9 mm.
 4. The hair holding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidincluded angle (θ) of said frame member that is formed between eithersaid first or said second spring arm and said longitudinal central axis(X) is ranged between 5 and 7 degrees. 5-6. (canceled)